Street style

I thought for this post that I would channel my inner Rihanna because she is literally my fashion icon. Also, a peak cap has become quite the accessory item for me -mostly because I am just too lazy to do my hair sometimes. I love that a simple peak cap has the ability to transform a very classy look to a urban and cool look whilst still remaining chic. I feel that the oversized denim jacket paired with the peak cap ties the whole look together because they are both casual elements.

Oversized denim jackets in general has been a major trend and until recently, I gained the confidence to rock it. When I say ‘gain’, I mean that as a curvy woman, I became so conformed to wearing fitted and skin tight clothing but I have found a way to comfortably combine the two. For my personal style, I am constantly shuffling between lady-like and being a tomboy so I feel that this look really crosses over into each space comfortably without outshining the other. If ever you were to ask me what my style is, I would say that this look sums it up perfectly – a perfect contradiction. I love that the trend of wearing a peak cap has no rules. You can literally wear one if you are any type of girl, be it girly, sporty or retro which makes it so versatile because it is all about experimenting and finding out what works best for you.

I know it may seem daunting at first if you are not comfortable wearing a cap but if I can wear a peak cap with hardly any hair then there is no excuse for you! Just make sure to find a cap that reflects your personality in a way. The cap I chose can really go with anything and can be dressed up or down. I also have a really bright pink cap that I wear when I am feeling more playful. I’m sure some of you might have seen me wear this cap on more than one occasion.

About this Look:

As I have mentioned before, I decided to pair this oversized-distressed jacket with the peak cap because it really compliments one another. Wearing the denim off the one shoulder is also super trendy and ‘effortless’- almost as to say that you have better things to do than worry about pulling a jacket sleeve over your shoulder. I then opted for a sexier neckline just to balance the oversized jacket and cap out. Many of you thought that this was a dress but it is actually a skirt and a body suit! I know, even I was fooled but I love that it hugs my figure in all the right places.

Lately there’s been many instances where I could have lost the plot but I chose to take a chill pill instead. I’ve been overwhelmed, stressed and nervous all at once. Being in this industry and being a part of it are two completely different things. For the longest time, I was in this industry but lately I have become a part of it and at times, you learn to be calm and collected when you are required to be. Even though I have been overwhelmed with pressure, I have also been extremely grateful and excited.

As I have said in previous posts, this is happening so fast for me and I was never prepared for it. I am so grateful for those in the industry who had so willingly lent a helping hand. Sometimes this industry will leave you lonely and you will lose friends but why are those friends you would want to keep in the first place? I am so lucky to have people in my life who are genuinely happy for me when I reach new feats because it’s always amazing celebrating victories with those closest to you. It’s always good to have friends in the industry because they can understand what you’re going through and assist where they can. On the other hand, it’s also good to have friends that are not in the industry because it’s good to separate the two. I find that when I get together with my friends that are not in the industry – friends that I have been friends with for years, it’s so refreshing because in this industry, you can become consumed so it’s good to have a break from it all now and then.

Although it may seem like I receive absolutely no ‘hate’, I am here to tell you that I DO! I just choose not to talk, tweet or comment on it because the more I entertain it, the more I am LETTING those comments have an effect on my life. I just thought I would use my platform to make it known that even I receive ‘hate’ from people. If you are experiencing any form of hate then please try your best to ignore it and turn to any sort of support structure you might have. It may be your family, mother, boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend.

With all of that being said, I just want to give a massive THANK YOU to everyone that has supported me on my journey thus far. This post is quite significant because tomorrow is Spring and I’ll be bringing you some FRESH new content for the upcoming sunny season so thank you for sticking by me.

About this Look:

This look is quite simply a chilled look – nothing more and nothing less. There’s something about minimalism that has really been calling my name lately. This oversized hoody is perfect to throw on when you want to look chilled, cool and laid back. It can be worn with a pair of sneakers and a beanie or a pair of heels like I have done. It really is up to you and your personal preferences.

Lately I’ve been feeling like I’m running a race against myself. I don’t know if this makes me self-absorbed or just self-aware but either way, I find myself to be quite critical of myself at times. I’ve always been the type to compare myself to others. Whether it be other bloggers, friends or woman on the street, I’d find myself reaching for some form of inadequacy that would formulate a reasonable explanation for why I wasn’t good enough. This wasn’t healthy and allowed very little room for self progression. In a way, a healthy dose of comparison is need to give us a push in the right direction. It becomes dangerous when this comparison leads you to believe that you are not worthy or capable of what achieving the person next to you is. I’ve learned that I do have some sort of social and digital influence, so why not use it to spread a message that you can incorporate.

For me, what I decide to put on my back affects my confidence and my mood so whatever I wear, it’s because I genuinely love it and not because it’s a trend and I have to wear it. If you don’t feel comfortable in a particular trend then DON’T wear it because it’s going to end up gathering dust.

About this Look:

I decided to go for an all-black ensemble with a pop of cheeky colour because I think it represents my personality. I’m quite cheeky aren’t I and lately I’ve been feeling just as confident in a pair of sneakers as I would in a pair of heels. Plus, there’s something about having gravity on my side that reels me in on this sneaker trend. If you didn’t know, sneakers has really been on the forefront of every major fashion trend lately and on some runways too. I know what you’re probably thinking – you have to be tall and skinny to rock this trend? WRONG! I am an average height and am definitely not skinny but I feel really comfortable in this trend. Partially because I’ve always kind of been tomboyish in my fashion sense so I didn’t have to step too far out of my comfort zone.

I have also been loving this quilted coat from Zara. It has definitely been an investment piece and has kept me super warm whilst remaining fashionable of course. Paired with my trusted black skinnies and beanie, this outfit left me feeling extremely stylish – well at least I think so. I don’ think you can ever go wrong with an all-black ensemble with a hint of colour and it definitely alludes a sense of mystery.

If you have seen me out recently or most of my videos on Instagram then you would have noticed that I literally LIVE in this bomber jacket. There’s such a ‘keeping it real’ vibe associated with a girl that wears a bomber jacket that I can’t quite explain. Any girl that owns a bomber jacket will wear it until its end.

I would say that I have latched onto this trend more than anything else because the ath-leisure trend has been making its way into my everyday wardrobe and it’s just so darn effortless and what better way to ease into a popular trend than by getting your very own bomber jacket? It’s not hard not find and depending on what you are willing to spend, there is literally a bomber for everyone. It’s incredibly versatile, especially when you are on the go and running errands and not to mention SUPER stylish. If you’re looking to inject some attitude and charm to your look all at once then this is the essential piece for you.

If you’re thinking that this look is a bit too masculine for you then there are bombers in lighter shades and slightly more feminine.

Cotton On River Island Mr Price

Bomber jackets don’t have to limited to just being casual wear but can easily make an appearance on those special nights out. For example, one could wear a body-con dress, heels and a bomber jacket or skinny jeans, heels, a fitted top and a bomber jacket. The trick is to keep everything else fitted, especially if your bomber jacket is a bit loose. Also, if you choose a bomber jacket with a different material such as satin, it will instantly elevate your look to be more classy and chic. It’s all about what makes you feel sexy and confident at the end of the day so DO YOU BOO! This piece is so versatile that there aren’t really any rules when wearing a bomber. You are allowed to experiment and be brave because you really can’t go wrong.

About this Look:

I decided to go for a more casual street-style look because it’s what I feel most comfortable in and lately I’ve been loving the laid-back look. As a fashion blogger, you forget that you are allowed to be laid-back in your blog posts, you don’t have to be dressed to the nines 24/7. You can feel equally as cool by just wearing something simple. I paired the olive green bomber with white jeans and a white jersey because I wanted to accentuate the jacket as much as I could and not take away from it. I feel this is the perfect ‘college-girl’ look or for the girl on the run that still wants to remain fashionable. I added a playful touch by wearing my blue sneakers from Topshop. I didn’t really feel like being too matchy so I decided to add a playful pop of colour especially since the jacket itself is quite playful.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again that I’ve never really been one for wearing bold prints because I’ve always kind of been scared of it. So if you have neglected all your bold prints that you bought when you were feeling adventurous but couldn’t quite find the ‘right’ way to wear it – then this post is for you.

I noticed that more and more people have gravitated towards wearing pastels and going for the ‘minimalistic’ look because it does not allow for us to stray too far from our comfort zone which comes quite organically to most and there is nothing wrong with this. This was my thought process too but did you know that some of the biggest names in fashion are throwing on the quirkiest of patterns whether it be for an office look or to an event? I feel it not only adds character to your look but it leaves you somewhat vulnerable because it kind of reveals a portion of your personality or at least your mood of that particular day. I’m not saying that you should go out and buy patterned clothes but if you have a few pieces lying around then why n0t make the most of it?

About this Look

If you’re new to wearing prints then I would suggest easing your way into it before freaking yourself out completely. Start with one key print and go from there but try not to overwhelm the look, especially if you don’t usually wear print. As you go along, you can become more adventurous. For this look, I’ve put my money where my mouth is and SLOWLY transitioned into wearing prints but it wasn’t that hard seeing that my print was a t-shirt dress and was extremely flattering to my body shape. I decided to create the illusion of wearing knee-high boots by just wearing a pair of knee high socks with ankle boots. Then adding the military jacket for that extra flair. I feel any sort of knee-high can pretty much go with any outfit. Foschini has some really nice pairs.

Do’s and Don’ts of Wearing Prints (for beginners)

DO wear prints that are more flattering for your body shape. For example, if you are more pear-shaped then you can achieve the illusion of a smaller frame by wearing a print on the lower part of your body and wearing a more solid colour on top.

DON’T wear animal print if you genuinely don’t like animal print because chances are that it will just gather dust in your closet.

DO have fun with your look and make sure that you are comfortable in whatever you are wearing.

DON’T get too carried away and mix too many prints especially if you are a beginner. Try breaking it up with solids for a more co-ordinated look.

DO choose a pattern that you truly love and makes you happy when you look at it. Remember that what you decide to throw on your back, tells a portion of who you are.

No matter how old you get, it’s important to never let the child in you get lost somewhere between petrol increases and the price of avocados. We will find that as we get older, we tend to dress with less character and this is completely normal as most of our day to day lives does not permit ‘childish’ dressing. We start to take life way too seriously, we forget about the simpler things in life that make us happy and when we begin to embrace our inner child, feelings that were once suppressed become illuminated. Sometimes you will find that if you allow your inner child to surface, your style will gain a unique personality.

About this look

This has been one of my favourite looks so far. It’s so energetic and charismatic that you can’t help but feel whimsical and light on your feet. I’ve been quite the fan of ‘tonal-dressing’ and YES, I just made this phrase up – if it doesn’t already exist. Basically, dressing in a way that all your items are of the same shade or in the same colour spectrum. It’s honestly a lot easier for those who are not as good as matching various items of clothing together that are of different shades and patterns. Of course, the playful and child-like aspect comes into play with this Mickey Mouse crop which I am absolutely in-love with which adds an element of joyful colour to this grey-scale look. Finishing the look off with what I’m sure you have seen in many posts – my Nike sneakers that pretty much transforms any look into that casual-chic look. The entire look, besides the sneakers can be purchased at Topshop. One of my favourite stores!

About this Location

Many people may not know this but when shooting for my blog, finding the location is one of the most time consuming aspects of shooting. It’s not about finding a pretty wall and just shooting there. It’s about suiting a particular look to a certain location. Lisa spotted this beaut of a wall and we thought it would be fitting to shoot this look there and because my look is grey, this added a transition of colour which was the ideal setting for this particular look. It just worked out so amazingly and made the photographs and BTS video that much better. You should definitely spend a little extra time to do your research to find an appropriate location. This is one thing I’ve always taken pride in when taking my pictures because I want to give my readers quality content.

I think that along with the Cape Town Bipolar weather lately, this outfit is perfect for a reasonably sunny day but you are still prepared if it storms which is likely to happen in Cape Town. I am literally wearing all my favourite purchases and what I love about it is that it can be worn in so many different ways. If you follow me on Instagram, then you would have noticed that I have recycled these items quite a few times. I decided to add this statement necklace because the look is reasonably simple and it matches the detailing of the belt amazingly. I have also been obsessed with my cape from Witchery. The perfect transition piece to Autumn. I think our outfits describe our relationship perfectly, simple with a bit of spice.

Lisa Gabriel Photography

I don’t think there’s a better feeling than to walk hand in hand with your partner whilst feeling confident in what you’re wearing because as a couple you feed off each others energy instinctively. Let’s face it, everything looks better x2 so why not combine your creative-fashion juices with your significant other? A couple that looks good, feels good TOGETHER. It also creates a different kind of unity that is not of a competitive nature but rather one that continually grows and develops together. The nice thing about dressing fashionable with your partner is that they genuinely want you to look good. There is no underlying agenda that secretly doesn’t want you to look better than them as you would find in some ‘friendships’. If you have a friend that never wants you to look ‘better’ than them then this is not a friend, TRUST.

A true partner would also want you to always look your best and not want to dull your shine in the fear that others will find you appealing. If this is the case then an insecure partner can only lead to unnecessary fights and paranoia. On a side note, I believe that couples can complement eachother but I’ve never been the type to dress exactly like my partner. I think that you can extract some elements from your partners outfit but you should still stand as individuals in your personal style and preferences without eclipsing the other.

If your partner doesn’t really have a sense of style then here a few tips that could help with this ‘situation’.

Fit is Key

Whilst some guys don’t really care too much of the fit of a particular piece of clothing, it can truly make the world of a difference. With guys, it is not so much what you are wearing but more so ‘how’ you are wearing it.

Don’t change him

Whilst you are a fashionista and your man is not. Don’t treat him like a personal project and force him to wear something he is not really comfortable wearing. It’s normal for couples to ask for eachothers opinion when buying clothes so when the opportunity presents itself, instead of demanding what he should buy, rather use your knowledge to give your advice. It’s seldom that your partner will buy something they know you’re not really into because let’s face it, we want to look good for eachother. Naturally, over time he will find his own style along with your help.

Embrace your monster

If it so happens that your guy does find a love for fashion, don’t use this opportunity to become insecure or ask him ‘who he is trying to look good for’. YOU! He is trying to look good for you! So appreciate his efforts when he does try and don’t become jealous or insecure when he does start to take a little more pride in what he wears.

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed creating it. Please comment if you would like to see more of these posts.

For the longest time, I couldn’t wear white denims without feeling a tad bit insecure but this white-denim dungaree from Cotton On is perfect if you want to slowly transition into wearing white denims without jumping right into it. See what I did there? This denim is the right dose of stretch which doesn’t leave it clinging to your thighs and bum which is what most girls are afraid of when purchasing white denims. If you have been reading my last few blog posts, then you would have noticed that I am a big fan of dungarees. I love how whimsical and comfortable they are and for some reason, if you see a girl in a dungaree, it just screams some sort of minimalistic confidence.

Do White RIGHT – Tips For Rocking White Denims

Fit always matters when buying the right pair of white denims. Make sure that it is not too loose or not too tight.

Always wear seamless/nude underwear. I have fallen victim to wearing brightly coloured underwear with white denims time and time again.

Maintain your white denims by ALWAYS following the instructions on the care label unless you want to end up with a lovely cream denim. I must admit that my mistakes by not following the care label instructions has left me with one very unique pair of cream denims which I love!

Always be confident when wearing white denims. If you’re going to constantly be overthinking the width of your thighs and bum in those jeans then rather rock a plaid shirt wrapped around your waist or a trench coat. The transition to white denims isn’t always easy so take it in small steps.

If you’re in the changing room and cant decide immediately whether a pair of jeans looks good then rather don’t get it. You will always know immediately if a denim looks good on you or not.

BE CONFIDENT.

About this look:

I thought I would keep it classic by pairing a stripped-tee bodysuit with this dungaree and instead of opting for a pair of heels, I thought that this dungaree was better suited for a comfortable pair of sneakers and why not break this whole look up with a playful hat which adds the right dose of playfulness to my look. This look is perfect for a day date or if you’re looking to run errands in style and will having you rocking white denims like a pro.

I always told myself that I would never be one of those people that wear all-black ensembles on a regular but more often than not, I find myself plucking black items from my closet. Not only is black mysterious but it is extremely sexy.If you’re not comfortable wearing all-black then try colour popping either with a bright lipstick, jewellery or nail polish. Another thing I love about wearing all-black is that you can recycle your items more often than any other colour and actually end up saving money. The days of being ’emo’ when wearing all-black are long gone so instead of thinking that you’re bland if you wear black, embrace your inner fierceness and you never have to worry about going out of style because black is ALWAYS in.

About this look:

These pleather leggings go with EVERYTHING and its versatility is truly endless. I think it’s always good, especially if you have curves such as myself, to throw on a cape and the cape also pulls the whole outfit together. The cape also adds an element of drama which is subtly excused when wearing an all-black outfit, making it appear effortlessly chic. Need I say more?

Another week has gone by and I’ve managed to maintain a mindset that has gotten me through some really stressful moments. I have been juggling so much lately that it almost seems impossible to remain positive. I am in the business of motivating people whether it be through fashion, dance and ultimately the way they perceive themselves which is why it is so important that I practice what I preach. It would make absolutely no sense for me to preach self-confidence and positivity if I myself am lacking in that field.

When I find myself feeling low or doubtful, I remind myself of all the things I am instead of lingering on what I ‘think’ is a negative trait. Sometimes those negatives can be turned into positives just as quickly as your mind disillusioned those traits into negatives in the first place. It helps to surround yourself with those who believe in your goals and do activities that enriches your soul. If you follow me on Instagram then you would know that I did a sunrise hike up Lions Head this week and I can tell you that if ever you need clarification, take a peak at mother nature.

About this look:

To go along with my semi – ‘calm’ way of dealing with life, I think this look is the right dose of casual-chic. You could just as easily throw on a pair of sneakers as you would a pair of heels, making this look super versatile. Although this look has a semi-boyish charm to it, it still remains feminine so let’s just say that any ‘cool’ girl can rock this outfit. I have also been eyeing this tasseled- jacket for quite some time so I just had to share it with my readers. There is so much you could actually do with this look but this is my interpretation. Email me with your thoughts, I would love to be in touch and hear from my readers. What would your interpretation be?